Improvement in grain-binders



UNITED STATES J. w. Lovnnnss AND 1crmmgus,Iu.' sunrnnnyor oLARKs HILL, INDIANA.'

IMPROVEMENT INGRfAiN-BlN nERs.

`iSpec'cation forming part of Ile'tters 'Patent No. 96,933, dated'fNovei'nber' 16, 1*'869; antedat'ed November 3,1869. v

Tanni/whom Muay/#concern v Be it-known that we, -J AMES W. LovnLnss and CHARLES EL SnnFFnn-,of'tllarkls, Hill, in the county Ioff'lippecanoe and State of Indiana, havex inventedfanew and useful Improvement in Grain-Binding Machines; and we do hereby declare that the follow-ing is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, which represent our grain-binding machine, in which different parts are designated by different letters.

FigureIis afront elevation of our improved machine, showing the seat upon which the operator sits, and an end view of the levers by which it is operated. Fig. II is an end elevation of the device, showing the levers by which it is operated in their different positions, and also the spring-rack for holding the bands which are to be used upon the sheaves of grain in binding. Fig. III is a perspective view of the band which may be used in connection with our machine.

This invention relates to machines for binding grain of various kinds; and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement ofthe parts of which it is composed, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

In the annexed drawings, A is a part of the platform of a reaping-machine, or a frame attached thereto, supporting the binding mech ansm. The inclined shelf B is supported upon posts A', and is connected with a revolving endless apron, which-receives the grain as it falls from the cutters, and delivers it over the upper edge of the shelf. and the mechanism for operating it we have not shown, as it is well known in the art, and forms no part of our invention. The grain, falling over the shelf', slides down, and is caught upon two curved supports, O C', extending down from the lower edge of the shelf` B, and curved upward, as clearly shown in the drawings. When a gavel sufficient to form a sheaf has been collected the foot of vthe binder, who rides upon the seat D, also This apron ,holes-in thel shelf B, and-iscrive to lholdi the gr'aincarried over by the apron, and prevent `lits falling upon the curved Supports C EG while"- `fthe-operation of binding is being performed. The rod H is fpiv'otedto thearm Iv2 of theshaft I. This shaft has its bearings in hangers I3, suspended from the back of the shelf B. 0n the front of the shaft I are hooked teeth I1, which, when the rod H is thrown up by the treadle, are pressed down between the curved supports U C in a space left for the purpose, and, bearing upon the gavel, compress it while the binder is attaching the band. This band is shown at L, and it is composed of a loop of cord, Z, and hook l', the latter being a wire bent into the form clearly shown in Fig. III. The band is supported upon standards M, placed between the hooks Il, and resting on the platform, and composed of a slotted vertical plate, m, and bent Wire or rod attached thereto, as shown in Fig. II. The wire is surrounded by a spiral spring, m1, at the top of which is a finger, m2, projecting through the slot in the plate m. These fin gers support the loop l on-one side of the sheaf, and the hook l on the other side. When the gavel has been compressed by the downward pressure of the hooked teeth I1, the binder, seizing the loop l in one hand and the hooked clasp L in the other, detaches the band from the standards M, and, passing it around the sheaf, passes the hook through the loop, thus binding the sheaf. As soon as this is done the binder, placing his foot upon the treadle F, throws the sheaf from the curved supports. At the same instant, releasing the other treadle, E,the hooked teeth I are raised, and the teeth GrZ are drawn down through the holes in the shelf B, so as to permit the gavel which has collected upon the shelf above the teeth G2 to fall upon the curved supports C C'.

The mechanism for throwing the sheaf from the supports is arranged as follows: The treadle F is pivoted at F', and to its center the connecting-rod N is attached. The upper end of the rod N is attached to the wrist of the crank O. The crank O is attachedto a standard supported on the platform, and to the crank-shaft is attached the curved fork 'G, and to the upper edge of'v the. bar Glare- P, the form of which is clearly shown in Fig. l. This fork, as the crank-shaft is turned, is thrown upward, swinging in the arc of a circle, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the fork striking under the sheaf throws it oi from the supports to one side upon the stubble. The treadle Fis pressed upward by a spring, Q.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the bent teeth I1, for compressing the gavel resting upon its sup ports, and the teeth G2, which, projecting through the shelf B, serve to support the grain carried over while the sheaf is being bound, substantially as set forth.

2. The shelf Band supports U G,'when combined with teeth G2, for supporting the grain on the shelf, and with mechanism for allow-I ing it to fall from the shelf upon the supports U C', at the will of the binder.

, 3. The standards M, composed of the slotted plates m, bent rods and spiral springs m1, and

fingers m2, for supporting the band, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the supports C G',

vfork P, and operating mechanism for throwing the sheaf from the machine, substantially in the manner set forth.

5. The band L, composed of the loop l and hook l', substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In combination with the binders seat, a series of treadles for compressing the sheaf on the supports while the accumulating grain is retained upon the shelf, and for throwing the sheaf from the machine, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. W. LOVELESS. GHAS. H. SHAFFER. Witnesses:

D. P. HoLLowAY, A. RUPPERT. 

